Apex Legends HWID Ban: Causes and What You Can Do

Players with an Apex Legends HWID ban tend to ask the same thing: I made a new account but I still cannot get in on this PC, what is going on? This article covers how Apex is protected, when the problem may be tied to the machine and what to check before you buy an Apex spoofer.

How is Apex protected?

Apex Legends runs with Easy Anti-Cheat. The software starts with the game and can build a fingerprint from your computer's hardware and software details. Your game is also tied to a Steam or EA account, so a penalty can show up in more than one place:

• The account side. Your EA account or in-game account is restricted. A new account changes the situation.
• The device side. The penalty is not limited to the account and may be linked to the PC's hardware details too. The problem can stay on the same machine even with a new account.
• The platform side. The state of your Steam account is separate.

How Respawn and EA apply enforcement is something to read in their official rules. Guessing from the outside can mislead you.

Symptoms that point to the machine

1. A new account was restricted again soon after you made it.
2. Other users on the same PC have the same problem.
3. The anti-cheat reports a block when the game starts.
4. Reinstalling Windows or the game did not change the result.

These alone are not a firm diagnosis. Describe what you see to support in detail; working out the problem together is the safest first step.

What does the anti-cheat read?

In general, disk serial numbers, motherboard and BIOS data (SMBIOS, UUID), the MAC address and similar hardware values can come together in a fingerprint. The list is in what an HWID is and sample values are on the motherboard page.

Before you buy an Apex spoofer

1. Type of penalty: a spoofer can only be discussed for the part tied to the machine.
2. Plan type: we compared permanent and temporary plans in buy a spoofer.
3. Setup: a clean Windows install, a BIOS version change, TPM and Secure Boot settings may be needed. All of it is in the setup guide.
4. Backup: is there a way to restore your original identity?
5. Apex support: ask for the current status in writing.
6. Support: you need someone to reach when you get stuck. See the trusted spoofer checklist.

An honest warning

• Easy Anti-Cheat is updated often. Be careful with any promise of a guaranteed result.
• EA and Respawn rules may forbid avoiding enforcement. The responsibility is yours.
• A spoofer does not bring back a closed account.

Key takeaways

In Apex a penalty can be tied to the account, the platform or the machine. If it is tied to the machine an HWID spoofer can be discussed, but pin down the source first. When you are ready, look at the plans and read the guide from start to finish before you buy.